Shaft coupling



vAug 2,1927;

W,- STOECKICHT SHAFT COUPLING Filed oct, 1*, 1925 Patented Aug. 2,V1927.

UNITED STATE-s WILHELM- STOECKICHT, OF MUNICH-SOLLEN, GERMANY.

SHAFT COUPLING.

Application filed October 1, 1925, Serial No. 59,903, and in (Jrermany`October 13, 1924.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to couplings fortransmitting rotary motion between two shafts having the same orapproximately the same axial direction, and more particularly tocouplings of the type in which, in contradistinction to that typeofdevice having balls interposed between coupling members for thepurpose of allowing a universal movement of the latter, the couplingmembers on the ends of the shafts tov be coupled together being providedwith race surfaces cri-operating with balls or like rolling members forthe purpose of producing an axial force in one of the shafts during thetransmission of rotary motion thereto. Such arrangements lare used, forexample in the case of shafts driving friction gears', frictioncouplings and the like, the axial force produced being utilized to pressthe'friction elements into effective engagement.

It is desirable that the Asaid axial force be proportional to the torquetransmitted, whatever may be the relative positions of the coupledshafts, and the object of the invention is to enable the achievement ofthis desirable condition notwithstanding deformation, oscillation,inexact mounting, or the like of the shafts to be coupled.`

The invention is characterized by the oscillatory arrangement of thecoupling member of at least one of the shafts in such a manner that theshaft or shafts may move in an angular direction relatively to the planeof rotation of the said coupling member. By this arrangement the objectin view is achieved since the relative positions of the coupling membersare not altered even if the shafts are not in exact alignment.

Two forms of construction of the coupling according to the invention areillustrated, by way of example, in the annexed drawings, in which Fig. lshows one form of construction in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a part-sectional plan view of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows a modified construction in longitudinal section, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Referring first to Figs. l and 2, references w1 and Q02 designate theshafts to be coupled and a and 7) discs or rings mounted thereon in themanner hereinafter described; c are `balls inserted between said discs,and e pivots on the shaft wz.

The discs a and b are provided on the portions facing one another withhelical or inclined or cam-like surfaces formed by recesses or cut-outportions u, for example, symmetrically arranged about aline passingthrough the axes of the shafts as shown in Fig. 2. The inclination ofsaid surfaces may or may not increase constantly on both sides or theymay increase to theI right or the left to different extents as will bereadily understood.

In the embodiment shown the disc a is rigidly secured to the shaft w1 bymeans of a key or keys while the disc b is oscillable on the pivots orpins e on the shaft wz. Itis obvious that both the discs a and b may beoscillatorily mounted and that the same may be arranged so as to bedisplaceable in an axial direction. For example, the' disc a may besecured in position by a feather key.

The peripheries of the discs a and b are of spherical form, and thewhole coupling is surrounded by a sleeve d provided with a groove yforming a ball race which serves as a lateral guide for said sleeve. Thesleeve d serves as a radial guide for the balls c and takes up thecentrifugal forces exerted by the latter. The balls c may assume thepositions shown in Fig. l, when stationary, due to the slight pressureof the -discs thereagainst.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 one disc 7c only isemployed, which disc is secured to the one shaft 'w3 by means of a keyor keys Inclined surfaces u, similar to those shown in Figs. l and 2 areprovided thereon, on which rollers 7^ operate. Said rollers arepivotally mounted on pins f which are oscillatorily connected to thesecond shaft wt.

In the example shown the support for the pins f is oscillatorilyconnected to the shaft w1 by means of pins similar to the pins e, but itis obvious that the disc 7c may be oscillatorily arranged and the saidsupport rigidly connected to the shaft w.

The operation of the coupling shown in Figs. l and 2 is as follows Inthe event of angular displacements of the shaft axes in the plane ofFig. 1,-such asV are caused by elastic deformations, Oscillations, orthe like, or inexact mounting of the shafts, the disc b oscillates onthe pivots e, there being some play between the balls c and the shaftL02 to allow this movement. During axial displacement of .the

shafts relative to one another the balls c roll upon the curved surfacesofthe discs.

In the event of angular displacements of the shaft axes in the plane ofFig. 2 the discs oscillate on the balls c.

The operation of the coupling shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is the same 'asthat shown in Figs. land 2, only in this case the rollers 7' aredisplaced upon the disc 7c during a relative axial displacement of theshafts in the plane of Fig. 3. v

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A shaftcoupling comprising a coupling member having a cam-like surface arrangednto act in an axial direction and adapted to be secured to one end of ashaft required to upon by said rolling member so as to be ro discs andballs, said cam-like surfaces and be coupled to another, a rollingmember cooperating with said cam-like surface, a second coupling memberadapted to be acted tated and at the same time thrust in an axialdirection when said first `coupling member is rotating, and'pivotal.means associated with one ofsaid'coupling members to permit of angularmotion of the shafts to be coupled together with respect to each other.y

2. A shaft coupling for two shafts comprising a disc 0n each shaft, eachhaving a cam-like surface therein; a plurality 'of balls mountedbetweenthe discs and in said surfaces; pivotal means associated with oneof said discs adapted to form a pivot'for its respective disc; keys onthe other shaft for rigidly securing the other disc on its respectiveshaft; and a sleeve surrounding said balls coacting to axially displace0at least one of the shafts.

3. A'sliaft coupling for two shafts comprising a disc on each shaft eachhaving a cam-like surface therein; a plurality of balls mounted betweenthe discs and in said surfaces; pivotal means associatedl with one ofsaid discs adapted to form a pivot for its respective disc; and a sleevesurrounding said discs and balls, said cam-like surfaces and ballscoacting to axially displace atleast one of the shafts upon transmissionof torque.

4. `A shaft coupling for two shafts comprising a disc on each shaft eachhaving a cam-'like surface therein; a plurality of balls mounted betweenthe discs and in said surfaces; and pivotal means associated with one ofsaid discs adapted to form a pivot for its respective disc, saidcam-like surfaces and balls coacting to axially displace at least one ofthe shafts upon rotation thereof.

5. A shaft coupling for two shafts comprisin 'a disc on each shaft eachhaving a cam-1i e surface therein; a plurality of rolling membersmounted between the discs and in said surfaces; pivotal means associated.with one of'said discs adapted to form a said pivot for its respectivedisc, said cam-like surfaces and rolling members coacting to axiallydisplace at least one of saidshafts upon rotation thereof.

6. A shaft coupling for two shafts comprising a disc on each shaft, each.having two circular cam-like surfaces therein; a ball for other shaftfor rigidly securing the other disc on its respective shaft; anda-sleeve surrounding said discs and balls, said cam-like surfaces andballs coacting to axially place at least one of the shafts upon rotationthereof. A

7. A shaft couplingcomprising two sha ,i adisc rigid on the end of oneof the shafts.v

having a cam-like surface arranged to act in an axial direction, ymounted on the end of the other shaft,.and

rolling members between said discs cooper` ating with said cam-likesurface to produce an axial thrust between said shafts during rotation.A

8. A shaft coupling for two shafts comprising a disc on each shaft, eachhaving a disc oscillator-ily.

cam-like surfaces therein; a plurality of at least one of said shaftsupoii rotation thereof. i

9. A shaft coupling for two vshafts comprising a disc on each shaft,each having two l cam-like surfaces therein, and/the surfaces of eachdisc facing each other; aball for each pair of facing surfaces mountedbetween the discs andin the surfaces; pins on one of said shafts adaptedto form a pivot for its respective disc; keys on the other y shaft forrigidly securing the other disc on its respectiveshaft; and av sleevesurround? ing sald discs and balls, said cam-like surto axially displacefaces and balls coactin atleast one of the s afts upon rotation thereof.

f 10. A shaft coupling fortwo vshafts combers and cam-like 'surfacescoacting toll axially displace at least one of said shafts upon rotationthereof.

11. A shaft coupling for two shafts come prising a disc on each shaft,each having cam-like surfaces therein; a plurality of balls lmountedbetween the discsand in said surfaces; and pivotal means associatedwith.l

discs, said rolling members and cam- :,eemos I like surfaeesebacting toaxially at vseid tolling members and nam-like least one of said shafts unrota 'onthereoicoactng to Vaxially displace at leastone vof m 12. Ashaft coupling or two shafts 60mseid. shafts.

` l prism a' dis-c on mh shft, mh 1min a In testimony whereof I hmmxedmy 5 cam' le surface therein' a r'olling mem r sgnature.-

for the surfaces amounted, between the discs; and pivotal meansassociated with said discs, WILHELM

